For Immediate Release       from Jim Irvine          Merrittville Speedway Public Relations     905-892-8266 (Office), jimirvine@cogeco.net or www.twitter.com/merrittville

Thorold, Ontario (July 17) Merrittville Speedway celebrated it’s 60th Season July 16th with two former champions winning their first feature events of the 2011 Season.

Former Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modified Driver Larry Lampman took top honors in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 60 while defending Hoosier Stock Point Champion Ken Sargent won his first feature of the season in front of a great crowd that included former drivers, crew and personalities.

Other Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisional Winners included Nick Cupolo, Shawn Sliter and Rocco Conte in the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Features respectively.

For the 21st Season, the Nostalgia Night hosted by Merrittville Speedway’s Reunion Committee began with the 2011 Induction Ceremonies for three former drivers onto the L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame.

The newest honorees were Bobby Fisher, Chris Ricker and Bill Willard Junior.

“This is my first win,” revealed Bobby Fisher after being announced as the first Inductee, “I’m really quite honored and accept this recognition on behalf of all the little guys that just came out to race.”

Fisher came into the sport during the era of the coupes and homebuilt race cars and was one of the top consistent competitors helping to foster the development of both the late model and super stock modified divisions, along with his fellow Hamilton area competitors, during the 1960’s.

“I really haven’t come to a race much since retiring,” Chris Ricker admitted, “but it’s great to be back and what a surprise …. It’s great to see great crowds supporting the events … thanks for your continued support.”

Since retiring Ricker has been raising and showing Belgian Horses with his wife Vicki in Dunnville. The 1986 Bomber Division Champion would move up to the Modified Division in the late 80’s until his final season in 2005.

“I owe it all to my Dad and Grandfather,” thanked final Inductee and two time Sportsman Point Champion Bill Willard Jr. , “these days … I am just enjoying the experience with BJ … my son in law Travis and the family.”

Willard’s family has been involved in almost the entire 60 year history of Merrittville Speedway with his Grandfather Bill Sr., dad Al and sister Tammy previously inducted.

The first Feature of the Night featured Vintage Race Cars representing almost every era of Race Car led in Pace Laps by Wall of Fame Inductee Sandy McPherson in his ceremonial 1947 Ford Pace Vehicle before first inductee Bob Fisher’s Green Flag.

The exhibition had to bring back memories for long time fans and was a spirited battle between Doug Fralick and Brian Paige in their 1930’s Chevrolets won by Fralick.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 60 for the Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds was a battle between two drivers right from the drop of Honorary Starter Chris Ricker’s Green Flag.

 “It’s been kind of frustrating,” said a relieved Larry Lampman in Victory Lane for the first time in 2011 since returning to the Veronica and Dan Miler-owned 358 Modified, “we took a year off and at the last minute came back this year … take a year off and when you do it’s like 5 years away technical wise with these cars – the crew has been working hard and I think I have the feel back.”

Initially it was Larry Lampman in control of top spot before Mike Bowman became the new leader on the backstretch of lap 1. Bowman ran away to an early lead but that went away as caution would slow the event for the first time on lap 6.

With Bowman back out front on the restart eventually the leaders would come up on lap traffic. By lap 14 the slower cars allowed Lampman to close slightly. With Mat Williamson now into third spot by lap 20 – the trio had driven away from the rest of the field.  Caution on lap 21 would slow the pace once more with Bowman out front once again on the restart.  Bowman again enjoyed a comfortable lead until lap 27 when another incident slowed the field.

Bowman again set the pace when action resumed but Lampman would stay right with him before taking over top spot out of turn 4 to complete lap 28. Immediately Lampman rocketed into a huge lead leaving the field behind him. Through to lap 40 Lampman would have slower cars to deal with but nothing would slow him down. With 10 laps to go Lampman enjoyed about a four second lead.  Through to Doug Leonard’s double checkered flag salute Lampman stretched the margin of victory over Bowman, with Mat Williamson, Pete Bicknell and Travis Braun as the top 5.

The win for Lampman was the third time in his career that he won the Jerry Winger Memorial.

Rookie Terry Ronning was first to lead the 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature before Jason Fontaine took over the first time into turn 2. Right away Fontaine was off to a good lead with Ken Sargent moving into second along the backstretch of lap 2. Eventually Sargent caught the leader Fontaine and challenged him  in a classic side by side battle that lasted one lap before Sargent took control of top spot.

By lap 10 Sargent was off to a comfortable lead with Fontaine facing a challenge from Billy Bleich.

On lap 15 Bleich took over the runner up spot  with Sargent leading the field into increasing lap traffic. Rob Murray also made a late race move to take third from Fontaine but neither could catch Sargent.

“We’ve had some struggles this year,” commented defending Champion Sargent in Victory Lane for the first time of the season, “but we’ve worked through them. To be honest I was always an Open Motor guy … but I can’t believe how good the Crate Engines are. I went against my better judgement tonight on tires … and sometimes you never know what will pay off.”

Sargent, Bleich, Murray and Fontaine were followed by James Thompson.

The 25 lap Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature saw a number of leaders throughout the event before early leader Nick Cupolo took control for good with one lap to go through to the checkered flag.

Jason Farraway was first to lead the event with Honorary Starter Bill Willard Jr. throwing the initial green flag at the start. Jesse Penner became the new leader just as caution slowed the field early. Penner was in control on the restart with Nick Cupolo in the runner up spot. A second incident would slow the event on lap 5 with Cupolo in control on the restart.

Two cautions before the halfway point would slow the event with Cupolo in control before Rob Knapp took over out of Turn 4 to complete lap 12. Just as Cupolo regained the lead Brad Rouse would take over the runner up after starting tail in the field before caution again on lap 15. Cupolo would face quite a challenge from Rouse before once final caution on lap 18 found Rouse as the new leader when racing resumed.

Rouse and Cupolo pulled away from the field and over the final laps battled each other as the laps wound down. With Cupolo regaining the lead on the final lap Rouse had to settle for second with BJ Willard third. Rob Knapp was fourth with Paul Gaboury rounding out the top 5.

“It’s harder to get going on the top,” said Cupolo in Victory Lane, “I knew it was fast and I just had to stay with it.”

“Definitely there were some slide jobs back and forth,” admitted J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lite Feature Winner Shawn Sliter, “Chris is great to race with though.”

The last half of the event featured quite a see saw battle between Sliter and Chris Steele with a number of lead changes between the two. Sliter first took the lead from Randy Hollingshead on an early restart.

Dan Kviring was the initial leader at the start but unfortunately lost control of his car collecting a number of cars in the process. The event went under the red flag conditions with Hollingshead out front before losing top spot to Sliter.

Sliter and Steele were followed by Derek Wagner, Kory Howe and Derek Moore.

The start of the 15 lap Feature for the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders had three different leaders before caution would slow the field on lap 2.

Mike Giberson was first to lead before Kameron Kocarik took control down the backstretch before Rob Overholt held P1 before the yellow. Through two restarts Overholt set the pace being challenged first by Kyle Pelrine and then Rocco Conte.

Conte would become the new leader on lap 6 – pulling away from Pelrine by a couple car lengths. In the final laps through increasing lap traffic however Pelrine was able to close in on the leader. The closest he would come would be within a car length.

“Kyle’s been real fast lately,” said Conte, “this one’s a nice one to get though … I was going to bring the other car but after a wreck last night and a long day of repairs – I wanted to check this one to see if we got it back in shape.”

Conte and Pelrine were followed by Overholt, Shawn Emery in the Rob Goulding Volkswagen and Tony Kelly.

INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS PIT NOTES

Tony Kelly was honored with Pete’s Automotive Driver of the Week Honors.

Corey Hopper had never been to a Dirt Race before but the St. Thomas Asphalt Racer really became interested in the racing he had seen. Winning the Thorold Blackhawk’s 50-50 was a bonus as well.

BOBCAT OF HAMILTON DIRTcar 358 MODIFIED FEATURE (60 laps) Larry Lampman, Mike Bowman, Mat Williamson, Pete Bicknell, Travis Braun, Tom Flannigan, Tim Jones, Ryan Susice, Chad Chevalier, Mark D’Ilario, Rick Richner, Scott Wood, Rob Pietz, Brandon Easey, Todd Gordon, Randy Chrysler, Boyd MacTavish, Paul Klager, Justin Sharp, Jamie Gilbert, Pete Cosco, Fred Carleton, Chad Brachmann, Bill Bleich.

HOOSIER STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) Ken Sargent, Billy Bleich, Rob Murray, Jason Fontaine, James Thompson, Dave Small, Kevin Knapp, Jim Lampman, Austin Wood, Peter Reid, Jeff Dayman, Kevin Kocarik, Ron MacAulay, Ed McNamara, Ian Blanchard, Terry Ronning, Chris Schneider, Brian Schmidt, Ed Fargnoli, Jeremy Bean

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS DIRTcar SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps) Nick Cupolo, Brad Rouse, BJ Willard, Rob Knapp, Paul Gaboury, Gary Lindberg, Greg Panunte, Brent Begolo, Adam Leslie, Cody McPherson, Len Dignard, Robert Baker, David Flannigan, Jesse Penner, Jason Moore, Robbie Rounce, Ray Hockridge, Jason Farraway, West Tallons.

J&S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING MODIFIED LITE FEATURE (20 laps) Shawn Sliter, Chris Steele, Derek Wagner, Kory Howe, Derek Moore, Randy Hollingshead, Jason Corless, Rick Brubacher, Blair Young, Ray Sliter, Scott Billing, Josh Sliter, Jeffrey May, Derek Bredin, Dan Kviring, Jared Turnbull, Bob Bredin, Derek Reaman.

TURN 4 COLLISION 4 CYLINDER FEATURE (15 laps) Rocco Conte, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Overholt, Shawn Emery, Tony Kelly, Jocelyn Wiley, Ron Cosco, Garnet Wilson, Robert Goulding, Greg Wilson, Chris Laskey,  Kameron Kocarik, Mike Giberson, Jeff Larmet, Brandon Boychuck, Terry Larmet, Terry Wilson, Dillan Sliter.

UPCOMING AT MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

Hingston Metal Fabricators will present a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event Saturday July 23rd featuring the second Turn 4 Collision Triple Crown Event for the 4 Cylinders of the season.

When the Grandstands open at 5:30 – Tuesday Night Kart Racers will have their machines on display. The Night will also be another MT Bellies BIG Food BIG Fun Night with 2 Adults, 2 Children under 16, 4 Pepsi and 4 Popcorn all for just $40.00. Showtime is at 7:00 PM.

Race Fans will have one last chance to enter to win the Grand Marshall Contest for Monday August 1st’s Bob St. Amand Senior Memorial.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 60th Consecutive Season – call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville). 

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a 60th Anniversary LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars.

Make your plans … call your friends and maybe even get a carpool together and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to home!

Your Local Dirt Track is where it’s at!!! Merrittville Speedway ‘The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara.”

Crazy Offer! Race fans – check your 2011 Ticket Stubs for a Crazy Offer from Little Caesars Pizza – located at 572 Niagara Street in Welland. With the purchase of a HOT-N-READY Pizza and Crazy Bread – receive a Free Crazy Bread!

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS

The 2011 60th Anniversary Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Original Pizza Logs, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at . http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

Lucas Oil Products is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives.

Through innovative product research and development along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.

Look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including the PartSource locations in Welland and St. Catharines, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage